Surgical end effector having buttress retention features
A piece of buttress material and an end-effector of a surgical instrument including features which can aid a surgeon in properly and quickly attaching the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In various embodiments, a piece of buttress material can include retention features which can be engaged with portions of an end-effector to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to at least a portion of the end-effector. Similarly, an end-effector can include features configured to engage portions of a piece of buttress material to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In at least one embodiment, more than one piece of buttress material can be releasably retained to an end-effector.
1. A stapling assembly attachable to a surgical stapling instrument, said stapling assembly comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a shaft portion including a proximal connector configured to be attached to the surgical stapling instrument;
a first jaw including an anvil; and
a second jaw composed of an attachable cartridge assembly, wherein said attachable cartridge assembly comprises:
a cartridge body;
a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body;
a deck;
a plurality of staple cavities defined in said deck, wherein said plurality of staple cavities comprises a proximal staple cavity and a distal staple cavity, and wherein said plurality of staple cavities defines a staple zone between said proximal staple cavity and said distal staple cavity;
a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a replaceable implantable layer removably attached to said deck, wherein said replaceable implantable layer comprises an anvil-facing surface; and
a plurality of connection members positioned adjacent said longitudinal slot, wherein said plurality of connection members are positioned within said staple zone between said longitudinal slot and a said staple cavity, wherein said plurality of connection members are configured to provide a holding force to said anvil-facing surface of said replaceable implantable layer adjacent said longitudinal slot to hold said replaceable implantable layer to said deck when said first jaw and said second jaw are in a clamped configuration, and wherein said plurality of connection members do not extend over said staple cavities.
2. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities, wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive said firing member.
3. The stapling assembly of claim 2 , wherein said implantable layer extends over said longitudinal slot.
4. The stapling assembly of claim 2 , wherein said implantable layer comprises a first implantable layer, wherein said stapling assembly further comprises a second replaceable implantable layer removably attached to said deck, and wherein said first implantable layer is positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot and said second implantable layer is positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot.
5. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a proximal securement and a distal securement extending laterally over said implantable layer.
6. A stapling assembly attachable to a surgical stapling instrument, said stapling assembly comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a shaft portion including a proximal connector configured to be attached to the surgical stapling instrument;
a first jaw including an anvil; and
an attachable cartridge assembly, comprising:
a cartridge body;
a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body;
a deck;
staple cavities defined in said deck, wherein said staple cavities comprise a proximal staple cavity and a distal staple cavity, and wherein said staple cavities define a staple zone between said proximal staple cavity and said distal staple cavity;
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a replaceable implantable layer releasably attached to said deck, wherein said replaceable implantable layer comprises a tissue-contacting surface; and
a plurality of holding members positioned adjacent said longitudinal slot, wherein said plurality of holding members are positioned within said staple zone between said longitudinal slot and a said staple cavity, wherein said plurality of holding members are configured to provide a holding force to said tissue-contacting surface of said replaceable implantable layer adjacent said longitudinal slot to hold said replaceable implantable layer to said deck when said stapling assembly is in a clamped configuration, and wherein said plurality of holding members do not extend over said staple cavities.
7. The stapling assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities, wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive said firing member.
8. The stapling assembly of claim 7 , wherein said implantable layer extends over said longitudinal slot.
9. The stapling assembly of claim 7 , wherein said implantable layer comprises a first implantable layer, wherein said stapling assembly further comprises a second replaceable implantable layer removably attached to said deck, and wherein said first implantable layer is positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot and said second implantable layer is positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot.
10. The stapling assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a proximal securement and a distal securement extending laterally over said implantable layer.
11. A stapling assembly attachable to a surgical stapling instrument, said stapling assembly comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a shaft portion including a proximal connector configured to be attached to the surgical stapling instrument;
a first jaw including an anvil; and
an insertable cartridge attachable to said stapling assembly, said insertable cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body;
a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body;
a deck;
staple cavities defined in said deck, wherein said staple cavities comprise a proximal staple cavity and a distal staple cavity, and wherein said staple cavities define a staple zone between said proximal staple cavity and said distal staple cavity;
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a replaceable implantable layer comprising an anvil-facing surface; and
a connector releasably attaching said replaceable implantable layer to said deck, wherein said connector is positioned within said staple zone between said longitudinal slot and a said staple cavity, wherein said connector is positioned adjacent said longitudinal slot, and wherein said connector is configure to provide a holding force to said anvil-facing surface of said replaceable implantable layer adjacent said longitudinal slot to hold said replaceable implantable layer to said deck when said stapling assembly is in a clamped configuration, wherein said connector does not extend over said staple cavities.
12. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities, wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive said firing member.
13. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein said implantable layer extends over said longitudinal slot.
14. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein said implantable layer comprises a first implantable layer, wherein said stapling assembly further comprises a second replaceable implantable layer removably attached to said deck, and wherein said first implantable layer is positioned on a first side of said longitudinal slot and said second implantable layer is positioned on a second side of said longitudinal slot.
15. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a proximal securement and a distal securement extending laterally over said implantable layer.